Lamp ejecting socket



Patested Dec. 11, 1951 s` PATENT OFFICE LAMP EJECTING SOCKET Paul J. Ernisse, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application J une 30, 1949, Serial No. 102,235 4.0mm. (C1. 173-358) The present invention relates to lamp sockets, and more particularly to sockets designed to eject used flash-lamps from the socket without requiring the operator to touch the lamp bulb.

As is well known, in taking pictures with ilashlamps, it is often desirable to remove the expended lamp quickly before it is Icooled. However, if the lamp is removed by hand, `severe burns may result. Accordingly, it has become common practice to provide means to eject the used' lamp automatically, thus eliminating the'handling of the hot lamp. Such ejecting devices must, however, be designed so as to permit the ready and easy insertion of the new lamp into the socket and into engagement with electrical contacts positioned therein.

The present invention has as itsprincipal object the provision of a lamp socket in which a lamp may be quickly and easily inserted in operative position therein and may be quickly and automatically ejected therefrom after use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a socket in which the lamp may be inserted and locked in position merely by pushing the lamp base into the socket. No turning or adjustment of the lamp in the socket is necessary.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a simple and effective means for locking the lamp releasably in operative position in the socket. When the lamp is to be ejected, the locking means is quickly and easily rendered inoperative to permit ejection.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a locking means which is simple in construction, comprises few parts of rugged construction, is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble and position in the socket and highly effective in use.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a lamp socket, showing the relation thereto of a locking and ejecting device `constructed in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the lamp socket, illustrated in Fig. l, showing the relation thereto of the lamp locking and ejecting device of the present invention with the parts in the position during lamp insertion;

.. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the '.base II.

relation of the parts when the lamp. base is locked in operative position in the socket; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing the positions of the parts during the lampejecting operation.

Fig. 5 is a top view, partly broken away, of a lamp socket embodying a modification of the invention.

Similar reference numerals throughout the various views indicate the same parts.

The structure of the present invention is designed primarily, although not necessarily, for use with photoflash lamps having a base II provided with a thread I2 adapted to be inserted v in a lamp socket so as to engage the electrical contacts positioned therein. The structure of the present invention permits a quick and easy insertion, holding, and ejection of a threaded base without necessitating any threading or rotating adjustment of the base in the socket, the advantages of which are apparent.

The socket I3, of any suitable insulated material, is formed with a central smooth axially extending opening I4 for the reception of the lamp The bottom I5 of the opening I4 is provided with a spring-pressed contact Iii` adapted to be engaged by the end I'I of the base when the latter is in position in the socket, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The particular construc- ,tion of the contact I6 forms no part of the pres- The upper housing 2B of the socket is providedV with a laterally extending recess to be later described and adapted to receive a base locking member in the form of a locking lever broadly indicated by the numeral 25. The lever, in the preferred form, is provided with a central iiat plate portion 26 formed. with a central aperture 21 which is positioned in alignment with the` opening I4 and has an actua diameter greater than that of the base I I, the purpose of which arrangement will be later more fully described.

One side of the lever is formed with a lateral part 28 bent out of the plane of the central portion 2G and terminating in an upturned end 29. .A flnger operating lever 30 is bent out cf the plane of the part 26 and extends through a slot 3! formed in the side of the upper part 20 of the socket. The lower side of part 20 is formed with a central recess 32, the upper surface 33 of which is inclined to the axis of the socket and is adapted to engage the central part 26 of the lever 2t, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the locking lever is in this position, the nger portion 30 engages a laterally extending wall 34 formedl at the bottom of the slot 3l, and elements 28 and 29 are positioned in an L -shaped recess 35 formed in the bottom of the left wall of the upper portion 2Q, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4, while the central portion 2E is arranged in an inclined relation across the recess S2 and engaging the inclined surface 33 formed at the top of the recess 32, al1 as shown in Fig. 3. The slots 3| andV recess 35 are open-ended, but are closed by the lower socket portion I9.

Prior to the insertion of the lamp, the locking lever is in the position shown in Fig. 3; In this'position, the central portion 2E. o the central locking lever isv arranged in inclinedY relation. As the aperture 2'! is formed in portion 26, the latter is also arrange'din an inclined relation so that the axis of the aperture is inclined at an angle X to the axis 35 of the sock opening, as illustrated in Fig. 2. As the aperture 2l is in inclined relation, it will appear as an ellipse when viewed from the top. as in Fig. l. Furthermore, the vertical projected diameter of the aperture on line 2 2 will be smaller than the actual diameter. Where the term projected diameter is used, it means thediameter of theinclined aperture 21'! projected onto a horizontal plane arranged normal to the axis 36. The actual diameter of the aperture is such that in its inclined relation the p-roiected diam.- eter is slightly less than that of the base H, so that the latter will not pass freely through the aperture 21, as is deemed apparent.

However, when the lamp is to be inserted4 into the socket, the lamp base l! is inserted therein to position the lower end of the base in the aperture 21. Now, as the lamp is pressed downwardly, it will carry the locking leverV downwardl v as a unit therewith until the bent end 28 strikes the upper surface 3l' of the lower socket portion i9. with the end 2R to aiord a pivot or hinge about which the locking'lever 25 may rock or turn in a clockwise direction. Now, as the lamp is pushed further into the socket, the locking lever will rock in a clockwise direction to decrease the inclination of the central portion 26 until a point is reached at which the oroiectefl diameter of the aperture 2'! is sufficient to allow the passage of the base therethrough. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 2. A further downward movement will cause the base to pass through the aperture 2'! and engage the contact l5 and com press its supporting spring 5S to tension the latter, as shown in 3.

This further movement of the base will causeclination of the portion 2t, and hence the lugs.

lrlhe surface 3'! then cooperates L abut the inclined surface 33 of the recess 32 to limit upward movement of the locking lever to retain the lugs 38 and 39 in locking relation with the thread l2 to hold releasably the base of the lamp in .position As the aperture 2'! is again in its inclined relation, the base cannot be withdrawn from the socket, but can be ejected by the tensioned spring i3 when the locking lever is again moved, by means to be later described, to the position shown in Fig. 2.

The locking lever 25. is moved upwardly and held in its initial or locking position, Fig. 3, by means of a coil spring 43, the lower portion of which is positioned in the well @il formed in the lowei` socket portion I9, and the upper end engages the under surface of finger 35 to hold the latter yieldably and releasably in' engagement with wall 3A, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, the base il.v serves to move the locking lever downwardly and to rock it about its left edge to permit the passage of the base ll through the. aperture 2l. However, after the base has been positioned, aV means independent of the base (spring 4S) returnsthe lockingl lever to its initial inclined relation, as shown in Fig. 3, to lock or hold the base releasably in position. The lamp base is now locked in position. After the lamp has been flashed, it is desirable to remove the bulb, which is hot, without necessitating the handling thereof by the operator.

To secure this result, the present invention provides an arrangement by which the locking lever can be rocked again in a clockwise relation to reduce the inclination oi the portion 2S to a point at which the projected diameter of the aperture 2'! is such as to allow upward passage of the base Il therethrough. When this position is reached, the tensioned spring i8 acts on the base HA to eject the used lamp, as shown in Fig. 4.

To this end, the locking lever 2 5 is manually rocked in a clockwiseI direction independently'of the base Il by depressing the nger operating portion 3E against the action in spring d3. Such movement causes the upturned end 29 to pivot or rock on the bottom to of recess Sii to the position shown in Fig. Il, at which point the spring I3 will eject the lamp.

From the above description, it is apparent that during the loading operation the downward movement of the base Il iirst causes the locking lever to move downwardly as a unit therewith until the end 28 of the locking lever abuts the surface 3'! which forms a shoulder or abutment about which the entire lever may rock or pivot to a point at which the base may pass through the aperture 2'?. The coil spring then causes the lugs 38 and 39 to snap over at least one thread of the base and to return the locking lever to its initial or locking position as shown in Fig. 3 in which the lugs 313 and 39 wedge the thread I2 to hold the base securely in position in the socket. When the lamp is to be ejected, the finger portion 30 is depressed to cause the entire locking lever to turn or pivot on the bottom 40 of the recess 35, which forms an abutting shoulderior the end 29, to permit the lever to be rocked or tilted to the position shown in Fig. 4 to render the tensioned spring I8 eiective to eject the lamp. After the lamp has been ejected, the nger portion is released and the spring 43 returns the locking lever to the positionshown in Fig. 3 and ready for the insertion of another lamp.

The single lug 39 may be replaced by a pair of spaced lugs 41, as shown dotted-in Fig. 1. These lugs 41 must,however, be in a plane which conforms to the helix angle of the thread Il and the included angle between the lugs should be approximately 30 degrees. It has been found that if the angle of inclination X of the surface 33, and hence the portion 25 and aperture- 21, is made equal to the helix angle of the thread l2, the locking lever Vwill have enough movement so that the lugs 38 and 39 will include at least one and one-half threads ofthe base Il. Also the recess 32 is slightly larger than opening I4 to permit the lockinglever to slide longitudinally or laterally in Vthe socket. This sliding is necessary due to the slight camming action caused by the lug 38 as it passes over the peak of the threads of the lamp. f

The present-invention thus provides a lamp socket in which the lamp may be quickly and easily inserted in position; and, after use, may be ejected automatically. Such insertion is secured Without necessitating any turning or rotation of the lamp in its socket. After the lamp is placed in the socket, it is securely, yet releasably, retained in operative position therein. The retaining or holding means is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and highly effective in use.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modiiications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an ejecting socket for a lamp of the type having a threaded metalbase adapted to be inserted slidably in a base-receiving opening in said socket, the combination with a springpressed contact positioned in the bottom of said opening and adapted to be engaged by the end ci said base when inserted in position in said opening, of a locking lever arranged in an inclined relation in said socket and extending transversely of said opening, said lever having an apertured section therein positioned in said opening, said aperture having an actual diameter greater than said base and having the axis thereof inclined to the axis of said opening so that the projected diameter of said aperture is less than the diameter of said base to prevent the passage of the latter through said aperture when said lever is in an inclined relation, said base being insertable in said aperture and movable axially in one direction in said opening to move said lever as a unit therewith, means to limit said axial movement of said lever, means to pivot said lever upon said socket when the movement of said base is continued to tilt said lever to reduce the inclination thereof until said projected area is such as to allow said base to pass through said aperture and to engage said contact, lugs formed on said lever at the edge of 6v, said aperture and' extending radially inwardly thereinto, said lugs camming over said thread as said base is moved through said aperture, and means independent of said base for returning said lever to its initial position and to increase the inclination thereof to cause said lugs to wedge against said thread to lock said base in said opening.

2. In an ejecting socket for a lamp of the type having a threaded metal base adapted to be inserted slidably in a base-receiving opening in said socket, the combination with a spring-pressed contactv positioned in the bottom of said opening and adapted to be engaged by the end of said base when inserted in position in said opening, of alocking lever arranged in'an inclined relation in said socket and extending transversely of said opening, said lever having an apertured section therein positioned in said opening, said aperture having an actual diameter greater than said base and having the axis thereof inclined to the axis of said opening so that the projected diameter of said aperture is less than the diameter of said base to prevent the passage of the latter through said aperture when said lever is in an inclined relation, saidbase being insertable in said aperture and movable axially in one direction in said opening to move'said lever as a unit therewith, vmeans to limit said axial movement of said lever, means to pivot said lever upon said socket when the movement or said base is continued to tilt said lever to reduce the inclination thereof until said projected diameter is such as to allow said base to pass through said aperture and to engage said contact, diametrically arranged lugs formed on said lever at the edge of said aperture and extending radially into the latter, said lugs camming over said thread as said base is moved through said l aperture, means independent of said base for returning said lever to its initial position and to increase the inclination thereof to cause said lugs to wedge against said thread to lock said base in said opening, and means to limit the returning movement of said lever to retain said lugs in holding relation with said thread to hold said base in said opening.

3. In an ejecting socket for a lamp of the type having a threaded metal base adapted to be inserted slidably in a base-receiving opening in said socket, the combination with a springpressed contact positioned in the bottom of said opening and adapted to be engaged by the end of said base when inserted in position in said opening, of a locking lever arranged in an inclined relation in said socket and extending transversely of said opening, said lever having an apertured section therein positioned in said opening, said aperture having an actual diameter greater than said base and having the axis thereof inclined to the axis of said opening so that the projected diameter of said aperture is less than the diameter of said base to prevent the passage of the latter through said aperture when said lever is in an inclined relation, said base being insertable in said aperture and movable axially in one direction in said opening to move said lever as a unit therewith, means to limit said axial movement of said lever, means to pivot said lever upon said socket when the movement of said base is continued to tilt said lever to reduce the inclination thereof until said projected area is such as to allow said base to pass through said aperture and to engage said contact, diametrically arranged radial lugs formed on said lever; at. the edge of said aperture and projecting into the latter, said lugs camming over said thread as said base is moved through said aperture, means independent of said base for returning said lever to its initial position and to increase the inclination thereof t0 cause said lugs to wedge against said thread to lock said base in said opening, said lugs being spaced axially of said base a distance equal to the pitch of said thread, and means for limiting the return movement of said lever to retain said lugs in said spaced relation to engage said thread to lock said base in position in said socket.

4. In an ejecting socket for a lamp of the. type having a metal base adapted to be inserted, slid,- ably in a base-receiving opening in said socket, the combination with a spring-pressed contact positioned in the bottom of said opening and adapted yto be engaged by the end of said base when inserted in said opening, of a locking lever arranged in an inclined relation in said socket and extending transversely of the opening therein, said lever being formed with a central aperture the actual diameter of which is greater than that of said base and is inclined to the axis of said opening so that the projected diameter of said aperture is less than that of said base, said base being insertable in said socket to engage said lever to move the latter axially in one direction as a unit with said base. means for rocking said lever on said. socket to decrease the inclination thereof until said projected diameter is such as to allow said base to pass through said aperture and engage said contact, spring means for returning said lever to its initial inclined position, oppositely arranged means on said lever extending into said aperture for engaging said socket upon return -of said lever for engaging said base frictionally to retain the base in position in said socket, a nger operating portion on said lever for moving the latter in said one direction independently of said base to release the latter so that said contact may eject said base from said socket, and means for pivoting said lever for rocking movement in said socket when said portion is moved.

PAUL J. ERNISSE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,741,221 Bremer Dec. 3l, 1929 1,983,818 Seiss Dec. 11, 1934 2,137,748 Best Nov. 22, 1938 2,308,016 Mihalyi Jan. 12, 1943 2,477,895 Pollock Aug. 2, 1949 

